Shakespeare’s play The Tempest and Michael Cervantes...

How important is an individual that most often than not authors focus on the growth of one over the growth of the many? Is it because the growth of one symbolizes the growth of all? Or is the focus on the individual due to the image it presents which is the growth in us? In any event, this outlook of individualism is widespread in literature and different genres and techniques excavate the development of the individual. Another factor that comes into play in the development of the character is the situation and the effects of the environment. Within William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest and Michael Cervantes Saavedra’s satire Don Quixote are two different characters molded and formed or in both cases malformed to incorporate their†¦show more content†¦Is this the truth or are we being manipulated by Prospero just as he manipulated everyone around him? Are we the ones seeing his thoughts are is he the ones controlling our minds? On the contrary, there is one ch aracter that we meet, understand, and cherish due to his absurd actions. Don Quixote presents the character of Alonso Quixano also known as Don Quixote de la Mancha, a middle aged hidalgo whose adventure is explored throughout the novel. Don Quixote’s character in of itself conflicts with reality as he embraces fiction created from his love of chivalric romances and constantly loses grasp of reality. Don Quixote takes on the form of the heroes and knights he had read in his books and wreck havoc wherever his adventures take him. It is uncertain if Don Quixote is insane or is merely created an illusion of himself as being a mad man. In his adventures Don Quixote mistakes common everyday places, objects, and even people as something else. This often results in disaster as proven by his battle against the giant which in fact was only a windmill and his deed to save the escaping princess cutting the enemies who were mere puppets in half. However, before his death and after his re tirement a major change occurs in Don Quixote’s personality. On his death bed the knight-errant accepts reality and discards the illusion conjured by his playful mind. How did Don Quixote overcome his insanity? Or was he insane to begin with?